Plant Love: Tulip Mania

During the 14th and 15th centuries in The Netherlands, the tulip experienced an incredible boom in popularity as a status symbol among aristocrats. The most expensive tulip sold during "tulip mania" was the Semper Augustus, pictured here (lower left) in the painting Flowers in a Vase with Shells and Insects (1630, by Balthasar van der Ast).

I photographed this wilting tulip at home in response to my inspiration at seeing the current de Young exhibit of Dutch Golden Age painting.